I'm confused, but this is probably an easy question for someone to answer. I've been looking at Freeflight's and Navworx new certified all-in-one units, i.e. C145 certified GPS, ADS-B in, and ADS-B out. They both sell for around $4000. It appears on the surface, without being spelled out, that these units will suffice for all transponding needs from 2020 and beyond plus the benefits of receiving - traffic, weather, etc.
My question is, if someone were building a plane that hypothetically doesn't start flying until after 2020, is there still a need for a Mode S transponder, since it appears both these units cover all bases for reporting out to include Ident input, at least with the Freeflight? If that were the case, then the $4000 doesn't look nearly as bad, plus it would have the necessary C145 GPS position source.
I'm just trying to understand if the transponder as we know it is eventually going away, or not going away so much, but being reconfigured into a different package performing a different type of function, like the units above.
My question is, if someone were building a plane that hypothetically doesn't start flying until after 2020, is there still a need for a Mode S transponder, since it appears both these units cover all bases for reporting out to include Ident input, at least with the Freeflight? If that were the case, then the $4000 doesn't look nearly as bad, plus it would have the necessary C145 GPS position source.
I'm just trying to understand if the transponder as we know it is eventually going away, or not going away so much, but being reconfigured into a different package performing a different type of function, like the units above.